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I noticed a lot of people on another thread are saying that they took the calculus based one, but my advisor is encouraging me to take the algebra based one.
I noticed a lot of people on another thread are saying that they took the calculus based one, but my advisor is encouraging me to take the algebra based one.
As far as I know either one is fine. However the question you need to ask is "How's your calc-fu?" Seriously though if you've already taken calc 1 and did well and understood it I'd take the calc based physics.(Mostly because if you already understand the calc applying it to physics makes the physics make more sense than through algebra.) If you haven't had calc or didn't do well in it algebra version would be my pick. Of course that just my opinion.
The algebra based isn't the physics they want.
Totally wrong. I took the algebra based ... and I got multiple interviews.
At my undergrad, physics majors took calc-based physics, and bio majors took algebra-based physics. I'm not sure which one chem majors took...
The algebra based isn't the physics they want.
Bagel, really? The MCAT is written based on the assumption that you took Alg-based physics?
I've been obsessing like crazy on whether or not to go calc based or alg based for physics. I came across some sort of graph that showed that physics majors, as a group, did far better on the MCAT than other majors, which made me think ~ okay ~ maybe being proficient in calc-based physics is a big bonus for the MCAT.
I know that this subject has been beaten to death in the past, but I've read zillions of old threads and I still haven't felt any peace about it. I would REALLY like to feel like I have found the right answer.
Specifically:
Which physics gives one an edge for the MCAT?
you only need algebra-based for the MCAT.
Overall, I think a calculus-based class might have left me less well-prepared because it would probably focus more on the math and less on basic theory. Of course, I didn't take the calculus based class, so I could be totally wrong. All I can say is that my algebra-based class was quite sufficient and of course a little easier than the calculus-based class would be.
The algebra based isn't the physics they want.
Is algebra-based physics trigonometry-based physics?
I don't understand how calculus based introductory physics is perceived to be harder then the algebra based physics. They both cover the same material, except the calculus based physics requires you to know how to do basic integration and differentiation (taught in calculus 1).
I don't understand how calculus based introductory physics is perceived to be harder then the algebra based physics. They both cover the same material, except the calculus based physics requires you to know how to do basic integration and differentiation (taught in calculus 1).
Algebra-based physics and calculus-based physics are the same in terms of difficulty for those who took algebra-based physics. And calculus-based physics is harder for those who took calculus-based physics
I did take calculus based physics (for engineering major) and it wasn't as hard as people make it out to be. It's not like your inventing anything, your just applying formulas to given situations. And in this case your integrating and differentiating functions (formulas) to get answers. The only "hard" part would be to set up integrals. I guess your right in saying that the calc-based physics is harder then algebra-based physics, but not by much. In the algebra based one your probably dealing with functions like sin and cos. In the calculus based one you would be dealing with the same thing but integrating or differentiating said functions. And again it's only basic int. & diff. that you use, since I doubt you really use int. by parts or solve 2nd order diff. eqns in physics I/II.
I noticed a lot of people on another thread are saying that they took the calculus based one, but my advisor is encouraging me to take the algebra based one.
Actually in some "calc based physics" they really do want you to "invent formulas". Ok, this is personally experience but when I was a student at BU in the old days (and even now btw) they had 4 levels of physics I. From what I understand it was algebra physics, calc physics for med students, calc physics for engineers, and calc physics for physicists and astronomers. I unfortunately took the last one (IE hardest) and basically tests consisted of us students generating the formulas for various situations.(I mean literally they'd give distances of "R", mass of "M1 and M2" etc and you'd come up with an equation like they do in the books.) So that "Calc physics" was almost certainly much harder than the algebra physics. (But the point was to train physicists so that's why it was what it was.) I'm not trying to scare anyone off the calc version.(Since I took that at UMass which only offered calc and algebra versions and it wasn't anything as bad as the BU course.)
)
Yeah, we sometimes have to "invent" formulas in my biomechanics course. But you usually can do it by applying previously learned concepts and knowledge of proportionality to figure it out. It's kinda hard but at least it gets you thinking. Like anything if you understand the concepts well, you should be able to apply them to any given situation (same thing with physics).
So let me try and sum up the discussion until now:
- Overall, med schools generally won't care which physics you took as long as you did well in it.
- Only take calc based if you have already taken calc and did well, and then make sure you're getting a good professor.
- Calc may actually be easier than alg if you know the calc.
I'll be taking the physics sequence over the summer (I mentioned this in a different thread, but people are already here, so I'm trying my luck), and I do know Calc pretty well. I'm wondering of the calc based will be a better option....
I offered my opinion on this in another thread... if it's worth two cents to you, feel free to read here:
I offered my opinion on this in another thread... if it's worth two cents to you, feel free to read here:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=4879938#post4879938
In short, I think it depends on your goal. I know there are plenty in this forum who view these classes simply as hurdles to jump over to get to med school, and I appreciate that perspective. If that is the only reason you're taking physics, then I say take the algebra-based one and get all formulas down cold; it is ALL you will need for the MCAT, and nothing more in the way of physics.
On the far off chance that you are interested in getting maximum educational value out of a physics class that serves all your MCAT needs, and MORE... I think calc-based physics is absolutely the way to go. I can't express this any more strongly without sounding terribly nerdy about it, so I'll stop here - but suffice it to say that I find the continuity between advanced math and science curriculum bridged by solid calc-based physics enlightening, and really friggin'
Good luck,
-MSTPbound